That was always one of my bigger complaints with the Navy. The utility uniform you'd wear to work was only authorized going to or coming from base. A Soldier or even a Navy MA could wear their cammies to get gas and even duck into the store for groceries on their way home without fear of reprisal.

It wasn't unheard of for shore-duty officers and CPOs with literally nothing better to do all day to go around trying to find Sailors gassing up their cars or going through a drive-thru in utilities. They'd then proceed to catapult a metric ton of **** their way.

(My theory? This stupid policy remained in place as long as it did to funnel business toward the on-base filling stations and NEX/commissary.)

I got out two years ago, and I have no idea what the policy is now that the Navy's wearing cammies.